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PPAAT Mutare chapter launched
Health Reporter, Manica Post
May 17, 2007

MUTARE - Public Personalities Against AIDS Trust (PPAAT) executive director, Mrs Tendai Westerhof, recently launched a Mutare HIV and AIDS-infected professional support group in the city.

Mrs Westerhof said the group, dubbed PPAAT Network for Professionals living with HIV and AIDS, was formulated to encourage professionals infected with the virus to open up about their status. In an interview last Tuesday, Mrs Westerhof said many people living with HIV were living in denial, because of ignorance, fear and prejudices. She said the same reactions were caused by acts of discrimination and stigmatisation in the homes, workplaces and society.

Mrs Westerhof said, "We want professionals to be more active and involve themselves in HIV and AIDS support groups. This group of people is being left out because most support groups and workshops mostly involve rural people. Professionals do not want to disclose their HIV status because they are shy to do so, yet they also want to be fully equipped with information concerning the disease. Stigma, fear and prejudices make many professional people afraid of finding out whether or not they are infected. Those living with HIV will ask themselves more often whether they should disclose their status or not."

She said the decision to disclose one's status should not be taken lightly as it involves not only the lives of t hose living with the virus, but also everyone around them.

"It is my view, following my own experience, that if people living with HIV decide to disclose their status, they need to consider a number of factors. Accepting one's HIV status is a major step that will help map out your life. The ability to cope with one's status will help the individual, and the community adopt a more positive attitude in handling and understanding issues that surround epidemic. For it is through the development of positive attitudes in people living with the virus that we can break the silence surrounding the epidemic," she said.

Mrs Westerhof said people living with the virus should appreciate life and live it to its full potential. About 15 professionals joined the support group during its launch in Mutare and 20 other joined the Masvingo group.

PPAAT is planning to go around all the country's provinces introducing the professionals support groups. "We are also planning to introduce an exclusive women's club called the Mamas Club."

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